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Genetically modified petunias which are being illegally sold in Britain could have ‘unexpected’ effects on gardens, and may even harm wildlife, campaigners have warned.

Defra has launched an investigation after learning that unauthorised flowering plants which are banned in the European Union are on sale in Britain.

They are working with the GM Inspectorate at the Animal & Plant Health Agency and the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) to identify garden centres and nurseries which are selling the petunias and seeds, so that the plants can be destroyed.

Petunias are one of the most popular bedding plants in Britain, adding a swathe of colourful flowers to borders. But orange varieties including African Sunset, Pegasus Orange Morn, Pegasus Orange, Pegasus Table Orange, Potunia Plus Papay, Go!Tunia Orange, Bonnie Orange, Sanguna Patio Salmon and Sanguna Salmon were found to be genetically modified.

It is thought they had their genes spliced with maize to increase the colour although their origin is unknown.

The campaign group GM Freeze said that genetically modified plants in the past had been shown to harm butterfly populations, as well as creating ‘super-weeds.’

Liz O’Neill, Director of GM Freeze, said: “Genetic engineering can have many unexpected effects so without proper testing it is impossible to say that these flowers will not cause any harm.

"DNA is not Lego and GM controls are not an optional extra, whether you are growing food, flowers or anything else.

“They have spread across the UK market unlabelled and unnoticed. That shows a horrifying disregard for regulation which needs to be thoroughly investigated. “I would certainly suggest that avoiding orange coloured petunias. There are plenty of naturally orange flowers to fill your hanging baskets.”

The EU-wide investigation was sparked at the end of April after the Finnish food standards authority Evira discovered that cuttings and seeds imported from Germany and the Netherlands had been genetically modified.

"Petunia flowers cannot be orange by nature," said a spokesman for Evira "In the plants we found 'foreign' material: genes that do not occur naturally in the plant's DNA.

"We believe the orange color probably comes from a maize gene, a gene more often used to get a tone of orange. Evidence for GM is irrefutable."

The HTA said they now had evidence the petunias were in Britain. The African Sunset variety in particular is available from many UK suppliers.

A spokesman for the HTA said “The HTA has alerted the UK authorities to their existence in the UK supply chain for these bedding plants.

"Every effort is now being made to trace the plants so that they can be withdrawn from sale.

“We do not yet know how widespread they are in the UK supply chain. The production of genetically modified petunias is not authorised in the EU, and any plants and seed will be destroyed.

Only one genetically modified maize variety is authorised for cultivation in the EU.

Some GM blue carnation varieties have been authorised for use as a cut flower only in the EU, but may not be cultivated in the EU countries.

Genetically modified maize, soy and rape with EU authorisation may be imported into the EU for use in feed and food.

But all genetically modified products must be labelled so that the consumer knows they are buying GM.

A spokesman for Defra said: "An investigation is ongoing. It is a team effort and we are reaching out to trade bodies to find out where these plants are.

"If we find them they will be destroyed. “It’s not illegal for gardeners to own them, so if they have been planted homeowners do not have to pull them up and they will die out in the winter.”

Michael Smith, of WD Smith nurseries in Essex said: “It's disappointing that it's happened. “The industry needs to deal with this internally now and get it sorted out before it becomes a bigger mess. But I don’t think the public should be concerned."